Himalayan – last designed RE in India – EXCLUSIVE

The much awaited Royal Enfield Himalayan will be the last product to be designed by Royal Enfield in India, as the company is moving its design centre out of the country. All future products of Royal Enfield will hence be designed in the UK.

Royal Enfield’s ‘Satellite Centre’, as it is called, is based in Leicestershire, UK and is aimed at being fully operational by end of 2015. All future product development will happen through this centre as Royal Enfield gears up to spearhead design and development of its future motorcycles, targeted globally. The company is also trying to improvise on their product line up in India, in view of increasing competition especially from international manufacturers and is experimenting with products into new segments.

Famous designer Pierre Terblanche, was roped in late last year to bring in the acumen to design future motocycles for Royal Enfield. Terblanche, a South African designer, who has worked with major motorcycle manufacturers and designed some marvels, including the much acclaimed Ducati Hypermotard, is lending his expertise to Royal Enfield products. The Himalayan too has inputs from the ace designer.

 Other automotive experts from the team include James Young, Head-Engines, who has worked with Triumph, and was hired in UK, Simon Warburton, Head-Product Planning and Strategy for new projects, also comes from Triumph. Mark Wells, Head-Programme and Ian Wride, have worked on Royal Enfield’s Classic and Continental GT models while they were with the design firm ‘Xenophya’. Royal Enfield is poised to churn out all new models from 2016 onwards and try to establish itself as a competent global motorcycle manufacturer.

It is learnt that the Himalayan shall hit the Indian market by February 2016 and Royal Enfield is trying their best to price it below INR 2 lakhs. The Himalayan will have an all-new engine which will be a 410cc, four stroke, single cylinder, air-cooled engine, with around 27bhp of power and 32Nm of torque.

The Adventure Touring segment has been getting popular in India, lately. While a few manufacturers have introduced motorcycles in this segment, they are primarily at the high end of the price spectrum and customers looking for an affordable tourer motorcycle are left wanting. The Himalayan, thus, looks at establishing itself in this growing segment.

Royal Enfield already has an enormous fan following and has been the foundation for several motorcycling clubs across the country. The Himalayan would be targeted at these discerning customers.